Apparatus for producing carbon black



1950 R. B. TAKEWELL APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CARBON BLACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1949 7&1. A

1950 R. TAKEWELL 2,518,094

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CARBON BLACK Filed Oct. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOlP/VEY Patented Aug. 8, 1950 Robert Boyce Takewell, Borger, Tex., assignor to J. M.-Huber Corporation, Locust, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 15, 1949, Serial No. 121,535

20 Claims. (Cl. 23 259.6)

. 1 This invention relates to apparatus for producing carbon black by. the channel process and particularly t improvements in the apparatus to cause it to produce higher yields of carbon black. I v

The commercial method for the production of carbon black !by the channel process involves theuse of an elongated burner house provided witha plurality of spaced openings in thesides near the bottom for the admission of airand a plurality of spaced openings. in the top for the.

escape of the gaseous products of combustion. Such burner house is provided in the upper half with a, plurality of spaced, channel irons extending lengthwise of the house for substantially its entire length. The channel irons are supported.

on a carriage which is-reciprocated longitudinally of the burner house and carries the channel irons with them. Hoppers extend across the burner house below the channel irons and are spaced longitudinally of the house in accord with the amplitude of the reciprocation of the channel.

irons.v Scrapers are positioned'in the center of the hoppers and bear upon the channel irons.

burner pipes are provided with a plurality of spaced burner tips through which the gas is emitted and burned. The burnertips and burner pipes are so positioned below the channel. irons that the flames from the burner tips impinge upon the channel irons and deposit carbon thereon. :7 I

In the operation of such apparatus, it has been the walls of the burner house and which side cur-1 noted that the flames flicker and wobble and it.

has also been recognized that if such flickering and wobbling of the flames could be prevented, the'yield of carbon could be substantially in creased. 'Various devices have been. suggested for reducing the air currents in the vicinity of the flames so as to cause such flames to burn] quietly and steadily and produce themaximum these air guides of Williams et al. have not been entirely successful in eliminating the disturbing air currents close to the collecting hoppers which affects at least two burnertips at the ends of each burner pipe so that little carbon is produced by the flames from such tips.

It is anobject f the present. invention to provide apparatus for producing carbon black by the channel process which effectively steadies all of the flames. and. particularly those adjacent the collecting hoppers. Another object is to provide the conventional channel black producing apparatus with devices which more effectively controls the air currents in the vicinity of .the flames and which particularly eliminates disturbing air currents adjacent the collecting hoppers. A further object is to provide devices which can be. employed in combination with the apparatus of Patent 2,446,251oi Williams et al., to still further improve the yields of carbon black. A still further object is to provide apparatus and devices of the aforementioned character which are economical to produce, install and repair. Other bjects are to advance the art. Still other objects will appear hereinafter,

The above andother objects may be accomplished in accordance with my invention which comprises providing vertical flat sheet metal side curtains between the. walls of the burner house and the channel members adjacent such walls and spaced about 2 inches to about 6 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest tains extend parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and eX, tend downward from about the level of the.

channel members for a distance of from about 2 to about 4 feet, and also providing 1 to 5 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to. the hoppers. and spaced from each other and from the adjacent hoppers so that the cross curtain nearest each hoppe is spaced therefrom by at least .8 inches and no more than two-thirds. the distance to the adjacenthopper, said cross curtains extending across the burner house substantially from one side curtain to the other side curtain and downward from substantially imi mediatelyb'elow the burner pipes for at least two feet;

lhavev found that, by providing the conven tional burner house with such combination of I -side curtains and cross curtains, the disturbing.

air, currents in the vicinity of the flames, in cluding. the flames adjacent the collectingv hopper, are largely eliminated and the yield of carbonis substantiallyinoreased, When curtains of the preferred number and size are employed, the increase in yield of carbon is of the order of 20% to 22%. Such combination of side curtains and cross curtains may also be employed in combination with the air-guides of Patent 2,446,351 to Williams et al. to further increase the yield of carbon black by as much as 11.5%; the yield, obtained by the combination of air-guides and curtains, being up to 35.5% greater than can be obtained without the air-guides or curtains.

My invention will be more readily understood from the detailed description hereinafter given when taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of a burner house on the line of l--| of Fig. 2 showing only those parts of the conventional burner house and apparatus for producing carbon black by the channel process as is necessary for an understanding of my invention and containing an illustrative embodiment of the side curtains and cross curtains of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken crosswise of the burner house on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to that of Fig. l and illustratin a second embodiment of my invention, with the scrapers omitted;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figs. 1 and 3 illustrating a third embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a segmental view of Fig. 2 with the addition of air guides corresponding to those disclosed in Figs. 2 to 5 of Patent 2,446,351 of Williams et al.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the walls of the burner house are indicated at it and are provided with the conventional slotted openings for the admission of air near the base thereof at l2. The burner house is provided with the conventional channel irons l4 supported on the conventional reciprocating carriage, not shown. Carbon collecting hoppers l6 extend across the burn er house and are spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel irons in the usual manner. suitable conduit l8 provided with a screw conveyor 20 for removing the carbon black from the burner house. Scrapers 22 are positioned below the channel irons l4 intermediate the walls of the hoppers and bear against the lower surfaces of the channel irons for the purpose of scraping carbon therefrom. Each scraper is connected to an end of a pivoted lever 24 by a suitable supporting rod 26 and are held against the bottom of the channel irons by means of weight 28 on the other end of the lever 24.

A burner pipe 30 is spaced below each channel iron between the hoppers and extends parallel to the channel iron. Each burner pipe is provided with a plurality of spaced burner tips 32 for emitting the gas to be burned in small flames impinging on the channel irons. Each set of burner pipes is supplied with gas through a distributing pipe 34 which is in turn connected with a gas main 36 through a riser pipe 38. The structure so far described with respect to Figs. 1 and 2 is representative of the conventional form of apparatus for producing carbon black by the channel process and it may be varied as is usual in the art. It will also be understood that the burner house contains other conventional apparatus such as a reciprocating carriage for the channel irons, a table for supporting the carriage and upon which the carriage runs, etc., the details of which are not pertinent or necessary to an un- These hoppers l6 open into a 4 derstanding of my invention and hence have not been shown.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have disclosed one embodiment of my invention comprising side curtains 40 and cross curtains 42. The side curtains 40 are constructed of flat sheet metal and extend vertically between each wall ill of the burner house and the channel irons l4 nearest such wall of the burner house and spaced about 2 inches from the outer edge of the channel member. These side curtains extend parallel to the channel members for substantially the full length thereof and the side curtains at each side may be made of one continuous piece extending the full length of the channel member or may be made up of a number of shorter sections as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 which in combination extend for the full length of the channel members. The side curtains can be made up of a number of sections of intermediate lengths asdesired. Also, the side curtains may be spaced from the outer edges of the outside channel members by a distance of from about 2 inches to about 6 inches but preferably will be spaced therefrom by about 2 to about 3 inches. The side curtains extend downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 feet to about 4 feet, the channel members usually being about 4 /2 to about 6 feet above the floor of the burner extend down to the floor of the burner houseso hoppers,

I as to obstruct the air entering the opening I2 in the walls of the burner house. The side curtains may also extend above the level of the channel members to any desired height but without advantage. As shown, the side curtains extend from substantially the center of one hopper to substantially the center of the other hopper and are supported thereon by means of bolts 44 as shown, but may be supported in any other suitable manner or to any other suitable part of the burner house or other structure therein.

A cross curtain 42 is positioned substantially halfway between each two adjacent hoppers and extends vertically substantially parallel to the It is made of flat sheet metal. The single cross curtain may be positioned anywhere within the middle third of the distance between the hoppers and still be effective but produces the maximum effect when positioned substantially as shown. The cross curtain 42 also extends substantially from one side curtain 40 to the opposite side curtain 40. The top of the cross curtain is positioned substantially immediately below the burner pipe and extends downwardly therefrom for about 4 feet. The cross curtain may extend downwardly for a lesser distance up to 2 feet and for any greater distance desired and permitted by the distance of the burner pipes to the floor of the burner house and the other apparatus contained therein. As shown, the cross may be employed as desired.

Fig. 3'is similar to Fig. l but discloses the use of two cross curtains 42 extending downwardly from the burner pipes'for about 3 feet and spaced substantially equidistant from each other and from the hoppers I6 so as to divide the area between the hoppers into 3 areas of about equal size. These cross curtains 42 may also; extend downwardly for a distanceot' from 2 feet to the floor ofthe burner house. These cross curtains 42 also extend from substantially one side curtain 40 to substantially the other side curtain 4B. Otherwise, the structure shown in Fig. 3 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 1

Fig. 4 disclosesst'ructure the same as that in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that, in this case, there are three cross curtains 42 extending downward from the burner pipes for adistance of about 2 feet. As in the case of the other embodiments, these three cross curtains. may all extend downward further, even to th'e'fioor oi the burner house. curtains extend downward for the samedi'stance but some may extend downward iurtherthan others and all of them must extend, downward for at least 2 feet. As in the other embodiments of my inventiomthese cross curtains willextend substantially from one side curtain to'theoppo site side curtain. V f n Fig. illustrates the use of the side curtains and cross curtains 42 in combination. with air.- guides 48 constructed as shown in Figs. 2 to 5 of Patent 2,446,351. Other types 0'1 air-guides disclosed in such patent may also be employed in combination with my side curtains and cross curtains. When my cross curtains and side curtains are employed with such air-guides, they may be hung from the gas distributing pipe 34 by means of their hooks 46 or, if desired, they may be hung from the burner pipes 30 by employing hooks having a shank of sufficient length to position the tops of the cross curtains immediately below the 5 x" shown in the drawings are given for illustrative I purposes solely and that my invention is not limited to such specific embodiments. The vertical extents of the cross curtains and side curtains may be varied as desired within the limits hereinbefore set forth. While I preferably employ from 1 to 3 cross curtains, the number thereof can be increased to 5 without disadvantage but with very little advantage. An even larger number of cross curtains could be employed but without advantage and such larger number would generally be impractical. When from one to three cross curtains are employed, the best results will generally be obtained when the distance to which they extend downward from the burner pipes is substantially equal to that represented by the formula wherein D represents the distance between the adjacent hoppers and N is the number of cross curtains between such hoppers. Generally, the shorter the distance the 'cross curtains exten cl' downward, the more curtains are required to pro. duce the maximum 'efiect; a

To illustrate the advantage of the apparatus of my invention, a commercial "burner house of conventional type, provided with the usual-chap nels, burner pipes, collecting hoppers the like, was .equipped with various combinations of It is not necessary that all of the cross 6: side curtains, cross curtains and airguidesand. the amount. of carbon produced was determined; In this burner house, the channel. ironswejre 5% feet above the floor of the burner house and. the adjacent collecting hoppers were. spaced apart. about 7 feet. The number of poundsof carbon produced by the burner house per hour, before being equipped with the curtains, etc, was. also determined. When only one crow curtainwas employed between adjacent hoppers, it was it. cated midway between them as shown in Fig. .1. When three cross curtains were employed be;- tween adjacent hoppers, they were spaced Fig. 4. The number of cross curtains and the distances to which they extended downward from the burner pipes; the number of side curtains. the distances they extended downward from the level of the channel irons and their distances from the outside edge of the channels nearest the wallsof the burner house; and the results obtained without the curtains, with various curtains. andcomrbinati'ons of curtains and when employed with the air-guides of Fig. 5 of Patent 2,446,351. are disclosed in the following table.

Table Pounds Type and number of curtains carbon per hour None 14.85 1 One 4. ft. cross curtain 13.25 2 One 2 ft. cross curtain 14.10 3 Three 4 it. cross curtains 115190 4 No cross curtains and 2 it. side curtains 2 inches from channels 15. 511 5 One 4 it cross curtam an 2ft side curtains 2 in. from channels 17. 45 6 Three 4 it. cross curtains and 2 2 in. from channels LL25. 7 One 2 ft. cross curtain and 2 it. side curtains 2111. 1

from channels 17. 00 B One -1 it. cross curtain and 2 ft. side curtains 2 in. y

from channels 15. 9 Three 2 ft. cross curtains and 2 ft. side curtains- 2 g in. from-charmelsuuu. m, 16.95 10 One 4 it. cross curtain and 1 ft. Side curtains 2 in.

from channels 14.90 11 One 4. it. cross curtain and 3 it. side curtains 2 in. g T

from channels 1'1. 50 '12 One ift. cross curtain and2 it. side curtains 6 in.

from channels 15.40 13 One 4 it cross curtain and 2ft 'de urta' from charm 13.45. 14 One 4 it. cross curtain and .2 it. s e curtains 2 m from channels and burner pipes otid'cd with air-guides such as Fig. 5 of [7.8. 2,446,351-... 19.45 15 Provided with air-guides of Fig. 5 of U. S. P.

2,446,351 only i7. '45

From this table, the effectiveness of thecjmnbi. nation of side curtains and cross curtains is evident. When the burner house was provided with. one 4 it. cross curtain and 2 it. side curtains (No. 5), the yield of carbon was increased: from- 14.35 pounds per hour to 17.45 pounds per hour, an increase of 3.1 pounds per hour or a 21.6%. increase in the yield. The air-guides of Patent 2,466,851, when employed alone (No. .18), pr:- duced a corresponding increase. However, the use of one 4 it. cross curtain and 2 ft. sin-courtains in combination with such air-guides further increased the yield by .2 pounds or 11.5%; the

combination of aim-guides and eurtains'pmduca 7 ing a total increase in yield of 5.10 pounds :or 35.5% over that obtained in the absence of the curtains,and'air-guides. Figs.' 3 and 4 show two andthree cross curtains, respectively, spaced substantially semi- 7. from each other and from the adjacent hoppers. However, difierent spacing will also provide a benefl'gii'al e'fiect provided that no cross curtain is placed materially less than 8 inches from a hopper and the cross curtain nearest to a hopper is not'spaced therefrom by more than two-thirds the distance between the hoppers. When two cross curtains are used, the cross curtain nearest eachhoppermay be "spaced from such hopper by about 8 inches, preferably about 12 inches or more. Additional cross curtains may be positioned between such two cross curtains in any desired manner. The cross curtains will usually be-spaced from each other by at least 8 inches, preferably, at least 12 inches. If two or more cross curtains are spaced materially less than 8 inches from each other, their effect will be sub stantially "equal to that of a single cross curtain.

It will thus .be apparent that I have provided new and improved apparatus for producing carbon black by the channel process whereby the yield of carbon'black can be very greatly increased. This increase in yield is obtained without deleterious eifects on the quality of the carbon black. These side curtains and cross curtains of my invention may be readily and economically manufactured and installed in the conventional burner houses and repaired, because of their simple construction. Thereby, the yield of carbon black in conventional burner houses can be greatly increased at comparatively small cost. This increase in yield is of economic importance. The higher yields'of carbon black mean a corresponding decrease in the cost of producing carbon black. Also, the higher yields require a lesser amount of gas to produce a desired amount of carbon black resulting in a substantial conservation of natural gas which is an important natural resource. Therefore, it will be apparent that my invention constitutes a valuable advance and contribution to the art.

. I claim:

1. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each'channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches to about 6 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 to about 4 feet, and 1 to 5 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced substantially equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the oppositeside curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet.

.- 2. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement'process which comprises a burner house containing-a plurality of horizontally disposed channel? members extending for substan-t tially the length thereof, a, burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending par allel to the channelmember, a plurality of burner tips in the upper-surface of each burner pipe, a'plurality ofcetrbdnbollecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house-below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about12' inches to about 6 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls ofthe burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for 'a 'distance' of from about 2 to about 4 feet, and 1 to 3 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallelto the hoppers and spaced substantially equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantiallyimmediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet.

3. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a. burner housecontaining a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of-carboncollecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches to about 6 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members fora distance of from about 2 to about 4 feet, and 1 to 3 vertical fiat sheet metal cross curtains'between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward ,from substantially im-- mediately below the burner pipes for a distance substantially equal that represented by the formula wherein D is the distance between the adjacent hoppers and N is the number of cross curtains between such hoppers. I

4. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement" process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members; each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches from the outeredges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to-suchchannel members for substantially.

the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 to about 4 feet, and 1 to vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet.

5. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises .a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a, burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extend ing parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality .of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 to about 4 feet, and n 1 to 3 vertical fiat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet. I

6. Apparatus for producing carbon blackby the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipespaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, .a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantiallythe full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 to about 4 feet, and 1 to 3 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between.

wherein D is the distance between the adjacent hoppers and N is the number of cross curtains between such hoppers;

'7. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel me bers, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches to about 6 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for adistance of from about 2 feet to about one-half the distance from the channel members to the floor of the burner house, and 1 to .5 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other .and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet.

8. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches to about 6 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 feet to about one-half the distance from the channel members to the floor of the burner house, andl to 3 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet.

9. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches to about .6 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members .for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 feetto about one-half the distance from the channel members to the floor of the burner house, and 1 .to 3 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers,

said cross curtains extending substantially from wherein D is the distance between the adjacent hoppers and N is the number of cross curtains between such hoppers. 1

10. Apparatus for producing carbon bla'cl; by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally' disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 feet to about one-half the distance from the channel members to the floor of the burner house, and 1 to 5 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from One side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet.

11. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises :a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending-for substantially the length thereof, a'burner-pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burne housebelow the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical fiat sheet metal side curtains spacedabout 2 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 feet to about one-half the distance from the channel members to the floor of the burner house, and l to 3 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each otherand 70 from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet. Y

12. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extend-' ing parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner housebelow the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 feet to about one-half the distance from the channel members to the floor of the burner house, and 1 to 3 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for a distance substantially equal that represented by the formula wherein D is the distance between the adjacent hoppers and N is the number of cross curtains between such hoppers.

13. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extend: ing parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each bumer pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical fiat sheet metal. side curtains spaced about 2 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of about 2 feet, and 1 to 5 vertical fiat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel t'othe hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burnerpipes for at least two feet. '14. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member. a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pine, a p urality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extend- 7 ing across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metalside curtains spaced'about 2' inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of'the burner hous and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of about 2 feet, and 1 to 3 ve'rtical flat sheet metal cross 'curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel tot'he hoppers and spaced equidistantfrom each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for-at least two feet. v

15. Apparatus forproducing carbon black by the impingement process which'comprises a burner house containing a plurality rjfhorizontally disposed *channelmeinbers, extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel memberand extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface or each'burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the'length of theburner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches from the outer edges ofthe channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of about 2 feet, and 1 to 3 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for a distance substantially equal that represented by the formula wherein D is the distance between the adjacent hoppers and N is the number of cross curtains 5 between such hoppers.

16. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantiall the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of about 2 feet, and 1 to 3 vertical flat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced equidistant from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to 14 substantially immediately below the burner pipes for aboutl feet. 17. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process 'whi'ch comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extende ing parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burnertips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each. hopper extending across the burner house, vertical fiat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches to about 6 inches from the outer edges of the channel-members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel membersjfor substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the'level of the chap nel members for a distance of fromabout 2 to about4 feet, and 1 to 5 vertical fiat" sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially "from one side curtain to the opposites'ide curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet, the cross curtain nearest each hopper being spaced therefrom by at least 8 inches and no more than twothirds the distance to the adjacent hopper.

18. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtains spaced about 2 inches to about 6 inches from the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending 0 downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 to about 4 feet, and 1 to 5 vertical fiat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced from each other and from the adjacent hoppers by at least 8 inches, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet, the cross curtain nearest each hopper being spaced therefrom by no more than twothirds the distance to the adjacent hopper.

19. Apparatus for producing carbon black by the impingement process which comprises a burner house containing a plurality of horizontally disposed channel members extending for substantially the length thereof, a burner pipe spaced below each channel member and extending parallel to the channel member, a plurality of burner 0 tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a

plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side the opposite side curtain and downward from curtains spaced about 2 inches to about 6 inches i -pm the outer edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel to such channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 to about 4 feet, and 1 to 3 vertical fiat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced from each other and from the adjacent hoppers, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet, the cross curtain nearest each hopper being spaced therefrom by at least 8 inches and no more than two-thirds the distance to the adjacent hopper.

tips in the upper surface of each burner pipe, a

plurality of carbon collecting hoppers spaced along the length of the burner house below the channel members, each hopper extending across 16 the burner house, vertical flat sheet metal side curtainsspaced about 2 inches to about 6 inches from thesouter edges of the channel members nearest the walls of the burner house and extending parallel tosuch channel members for substantially the full length thereof and extending downward from about the level of the channel members for a distance of from about 2 to about 4 feet, and 1 to 3 vertical fiat sheet metal cross curtains between each two adjacent hoppers substantially parallel to the hoppers and spaced from each other and from the adjacent hoppers by at least 8 inches, said cross curtains extending substantially from one side curtain to the opposite side curtain and downward from substantially immediately below the burner pipes for at least two feet, the cross, curtain nearest each hopper. being spacedtherefrom by no more than two-thirds thev distance to the adjacent hopper.

, ROBERT BOYCE TAKEWELL.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:*-

UNITED STATES PATENTS Reardon Sept. 16, 1947 

1. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CARBON BLACK BY THE IMPINGEMENT PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES A BURNER HOUSE CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CHANNEL MEMBERS EXTENDING FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH THEREOF, A BURNER PIPE SPACED BELOW EACH CHANNEL MEMBER AND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE CHANNEL MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF BURNER TIPS IN THE UPPER SURFACE OF EACH BURNER PIPE A PLURALITY OF CARBON COLLECTING HOPPERS SPACED ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE BURNER HOUSE BELOW THE CHANNEL MEMBERS, EACH HOPPER EXTENDING ACROSS THE BURNER HOUSE, VERTICAL FLAT SHEET METAL SIDE CURTAINS SPACED ABOUT 2 INCHES TO ABOUT 6 INCHES FROM THE OUTER EDGES OF THE CHANNEL MEMBERS NEAREST THE WALLS OF THE BURNER HOUSE AND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SUCH CHANNEL MEMBERS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH THEREOF AND EXTENDING DOWNWARD FROM ABOUT THE LEVEL OF THE CHANNEL MEMBERS FOR A DISTANCE OF FROM ABOUT 2 TO ABOUT 4 FEET, AND 1 TO 5 VERTICAL FLAT SHEET METAL CROSS CURTAINS BETWEEN EACH TWO ADJACENT HOPPERS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE HOPPERS AND SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIDISTANT FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM THE ADJACENT HOPPERS, SAID CROSS CURTAINS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY FROM ONE SIDE CURTAIN TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE CURTAIN AND DOWNWARD FROM SUBSTANTIALLY IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE BURNER PIPES FOR AT LEAST TWO FEET. 